The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-07

"ul Vno SOo auyohihS W say dSlH IL
1t was evident to Tom, who turned
his troubled face to the bystanders,
that no one bad. "Black Mike"
otherwise Michael Deelish-with half
a dozen aliases-was one Of those
characters not unlike the "Bad Man of
Bitter Creek" known to the mining
of southwestern Montana. He
had been by turns gambler, convict
ticket-of-leave man, digger and loung-
er. Old North who had been one of
the original discoverers of Magoari,
him as one of the COM
munity in his own day, and that he
had abandoned his claim after taking
nearly two thousand pounds in gold
"You better give up the shanty
peaceable, my lad" he said to Tom,
"mebbe some of us'll find room for
you"
"No need OF his leavin' less he wants
to" put in the burly miner in a surly
tone, "there's two bunks here he's
welcome to one OF 'em, an if he wants
to go shares on the claim, don't
mind"
This was quite concession on the
part of Mr.. Deelish, and Tom was ad-
vised to take up with it. But indeed
he had no other resource. Until he
was lucky enough to make more than
he had been doing, he had no money
to hire another shanty, and all the rest
of the old claims were taken up.
"Very WE'LL" he finally said, and
without being invited Black Mike pro-
ceeded to help himself literally to
Toms tea and 'damper."
1t soon became evident that Mr..
Deelish's idea of working the claim on
halves differed essentially from the
usual method. That is to say, Tom
did most of the work and halved the
scanty proceeds with his new partner,
who spent most of his time smoking
and drinking brandy obtained "on
tick" at the canteen.
of you don't like it you can leave"
he said, whenever Tom spiritedly ex-
pressed his views on the subject. And
as Toms luck grew poorer, be could
not save enough to help him get even
as far as Ballarat. So he stayed.
Perhaps because tired of inaction,
Black Mike finally took an industrious
fit. Working vigorously at one end of
the claim, while Tom piled pick and
shovel at the other, he began tunnel
ing toward his young partner, who in
turn worked his way slowly toward
Deelish, both carefully "shoring up"
as they went along.
But their utmost toll did not avail
them anything. A few small nuggets
from time to time, this was all that
rewarded their search. And one morn
ing Tom woke up to find that his part
ner had decamped, taking with him not
only the canvas bag containing their
Joint savings, but also the little one,
which held his own private store. He
had buried this last under loose slab
in the floor, but Black Nike had dis
covered the hiding place in some way,
and levanted with the whole.
Threats of vengence were freely
made by the other miners-a perfectly
safe proceeding when Black Mike was
miles away. Tom, far heavier hearted
than ever, swallowed his SORROWS and
his scanty breakfast, and started for
his claim. What prompted him to en-
ter the excavation made by his rascally
partner, rather than his own, is one OF
those inexplicable things for which
there is no accounting. Some men
call it Providence-others, "chance
Induced by whatever cause, Tom
crawled in with lantern and pick and
began work IN the narrow aperture
where he could only sit, not stand
stopping from time 10 time TO remove
the dislodged earth in a rude drag
which he pulled after him by rope.
"Deelish didn't even take the trouble
to half shore up he muttered Grossly
as he noticed how insecurely placed
were some of the short props.
"Now look at that!' he exclaimed
aloud, pressing his foot against on,
back Of him. Il can shake it,
But the action suited to the wore
was terrible mistake. The prop and
plank 1t supported gave way, ant
with deafeuiug crash the tunnel cav
ed behind him.
There was but moment for collect
ed thought Already he breathe'
with difficulty in the confined space o
five or six feet which remained. BE
hind him were tons of earth. 1t woul,
be hours before his absence would b
discovered.
AS nearly as he could estimate onl
few cubic feet of earth remained be
tween the two miniature tunnels, whic
had been slowly approaching eac
other for fortnight.
Nerved with the energy of despair
Tom piled his pick vigorously, yt
with care, packing down the thu
loosened earth to make room as he az
vanced-every moment fearing to b
buried beneath some falling mass.
Suddenly his pick struck somethin
hard, but it never occurred to him,
the fight for life aud liberty, what IL
,, obstruction might be, till he saw /
the light of his bull's-eye lantern Il
, dull CLEAN of yellow metal.
, Yet what would gold avail unless |
could reach the light and air; Il
. latter especially, for he was gaspir
for breath 7
He hardly glanced at the dislodg,
g nugget, which fell before him till--o
! Joy of joys-his pick penetrated in
! the tunnel beyond, and with fe
more strokes the cavity was MAJ
a large enough for him 10 squeeze hil
self through.
Five minutes later faint shout fro
i the mouth of the Yankee lads tunr
drew several eyes in that direction.
: 81 believe the boy has struck it" c
claimed old North, leaping out of t
trench and hurrying towards To
a who, pale as death, reeking with p'
spiration, dirty and breathless, sto
in the mouth of the excavation.
!. Two or three left their tents a
"a shanties and rushed to the spot wh1
n old North, holding in one hand I
largest nugget ever seen in Mago
q section, was peering at it cage
q through his pocket magnifying Ola
:, while Tom looked up eagerly, avs
as inc his verdict